Apparatus and method for fastening by capturing protruding members in corresponding flexible openings

ABSTRACT

A fastener having protruding members on a first surface that are positioned for alignment with and capture by corresponding flexible openings in an elastic substrate of a second surface so that the first surface and the second surface may be detachably fastened together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fastener having protruding members that areheld by corresponding flexible openings that releasably capture saidmembers by flexibly grasping a necking base portion of the protrudingmembers, and products using such a fastener. The invention also relatesto a method for removably fastening two surfaces together using theaforementioned fastener.

Many products are in use having inter-engaging protruding members,inter-engaging hooks and loops, and inter-engaging flexible troughs.

A problem with the mechanisms mentioned above is if any of them areexposed, to sand, dirt, grit, and other particulate contaminants, theyeither perform less well or fail to perform altogether.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention, which has beendevised to overcome this problem, to provide a versatile fasteningmechanism that is effective even when exposed to particulatecontaminants such as dirt, sand, and grit.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pluralityof protruding members, having basal necking portions, adapted to beremovably engaged with a plurality of flexible openings that open fromone side of the substrate through to an opposite side, the elasticmaterial of the flexible openings configured so that the head portion ofthe protruding members may penetrate through to the opposite side,wherein elastic material forming the flexible openings grasp and holdthe basal necking portions of the protruding members.

Accordingly, the invention has no place for contaminants like dirt orsand to collect and interfere with the mechanism of the fastener. Themechanism is an elastic material forming the flexible openings; therebydirt and sand cannot prevent the openings from engaging with theprotruding members. Instead, contaminants tend to fall through theflexible openings, or else be pushed out by the protruding members whenthe protruding members are operationally engaged with the flexibleopenings and brushed away from the basal necking portions of theprotruding members by the flexible material upon engagement anddisengagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the invention inthe plan view.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the inventionin cross-section.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of the detailing a flexible opening of thesecond zone.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment illustrating theprotruding members of the first zone engaged with the flexible openingsof the second zone.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the invention inthe plan view

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the inventionin cross-section.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment illustrating theprotruding members of the first zone engaged with the flexible openingsof the second zone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the fastener 1 includes a substrate 5 that is spreadacross three zones: a first zone 10 at a first end 40, a second zone 20at an opposite second end 50, and a third zone 30. The first and secondzones 10,20 are separated by the third zone 30 which is flexible inbending.

The first zone includes a plurality of protruding members 60 arrangedacross the surface of the first, zone, 10.

Preferably, the head portion of the protruding members has a rounded endportion opposite the basal necking portion. Additionally, the headportion may have a spherical shape.

The second zone includes a plurality of flexible openings 70 arrangedacross the surface of the second zone 20 symmetrically to thearrangement of the protruding members 60.

FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 in cross-section. Eachprotruding member 60 includes a basal necking portion 80 connecting ahead portion 65 having maximum width d to the substrate 5 at a 90 degreeangle from the surface of the substrate 5. Each protruding member has amaximum width indicated by d on FIG. 1. The necking portion of theprotruding member 80 has a maximum width indicated by e on FIG. 2.

Width d is greater than width e.

FIG. 3 illustrates details of a flexible opening 70. The substrate ofthe second zone includes an outer layer 90 sandwiching an inner layer100. This inner layer 100 is composed of a flexible elastic materialcapable of stretching in a resilient manner.

A first opening in the outer layer 90 has a maximum width f both aboveand below the flexible inner layer 100. Inner layer 100 has a secondopening of width g centered within the first opening of width f.

The minimum width of g is less than that of f and d, while the maximumwidth of g is less or equal to the maximum width of f.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the first embodiment where theprotruding members 60 of the first zone 10 are in engagement with theflexible openings 70 of the second zone 20. The substrate 5 of the thirdzone 30 bends so that all the protruding members 60 may fit through theflexible elastic material of the inner layer 100 through top side of thesecond zone 20 through to the bottom side of second zone 20, held snuglyin place by the flexible elastic material of inner layer 100.

The protruding members 60 of the first zone 10 are engaged with theflexible openings 70 of the second zone 20 by bending the fastener atthe third zone 30, aligning the protruding members 60 with the top sideof corresponding flexible openings 70, and applying a force directedfrom the top side to the opposite bottom side so that the flexibleopenings 70 expand from width f to width g to allow passage of theprotruding members 60 through to the bottom side of the second zone.

Disengagement of the first zone 10 and the second zone 20 isaccomplished by applying force directed to pull the zones apartsufficient to cause the flexible openings 70 expand from width f towidth d to allow passage of the protruding members 60 through to the topside of the second zone.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. In thisembodiment, the first zone 10 and the second zone 20 are not connectedwith each other by a third zone. FIG. 5 illustrates the two zones in theplan view. FIG. 6 illustrates the two zones in a cross-section.

FIG. 7 illustrates the two zones in engagement with each other. As withthe first embodiment described above, the protruding members 60 alignwith corresponding flexible openings 70 a top side of the second zone tobe forced through the flexible inner layer 100 so that the substrateside of the head portions rest against the flexible elastic material onthe bottom side of the second zone.

Disengagement of the fastener in the second embodiment is accomplishedin the identical manner as with the first embodiment.

In one embodiment, the first zone is part of one surface of an openingportion of a flexible container (e.g., a plastic bag) and removablyengages with the second zone attached to a second surface of the openingportion so that when engaged, the opening of the flexible container isclosed. The protruding members in this embodiment range from 1/64 inchto 1/32 inch. The container can be sealed when the protruding members ofand the flexible openings are fully engaged. The protruding members andthe substrate of the first zone, for example, may be formed from acommon, thermoformable material. Further, the container itself may beformed from this same thermoformable material.

In one embodiment, the protruding members of the first zone are placedalong the circumferential surface of a wheel, such that protrudingmembers are arranged all along the circumferential surface of this“protrusion gear” such that each protruding member is pointsperpendicularly to the circumferential surface of the wheel. Thisprotrusion gear is attached to a drive shaft and is configured to couplewith a second zone on a continuous belt or strap, so that the belt maybe driven by the shaft and protrusion gear. The material for the belt isa flexible composite or rubber, while the wheel and the protrudingmembers of the protrusion gear, is composed of a hard material such asrigid plastic, brass or steel.

In one embodiment, the protruding members may be anchored to a surfaceof a pouch-like container, and the flexible openings fashioned within aclosing flap, so that the flap closes the container when the flexibleopenings engage the flexible openings. So that the protruding membersand the flexible openings may be easily manipulated by hand, the headportions of the flexible openings may have maximum widths of ⅛ inch to ¾inch. A non-exclusive list of applications of this embodiment include apurse, a pack, or a handbag. The protrusions in such an embodiment maybe composed of, for example, metal such as brass or a molded polymerthat may be colored appropriately.

In one embodiment, the first zone is anchored to a first section of agarment, and the second zone is constructed in a second section of agarment that is removably attached to the first section. In thisembodiment the dimensions of the invention would be similar to that ofthe pouch-like container, above, e.g. ⅛ inch to ¾ inch so as to beeasily manipulated by hand. In addition, the protruding members and orthe flexible openings may have colored surfaces appropriate to thegarment. A non-exclusive list of applications of this embodiment includea shoe buckle, skirt, trousers or slacks closure, and hat or helmetclosure. As with the pouch, above, the protrusions may be composed of ametal such as brass or a molded polymer.

In one embodiment, the first zone and second zone are attached with thethird zone as in the first embodiment, and the protruding members areconstructed of sturdy, rigid plastic formed by injection-molding or elsewelded to the substrate of like material, the protruding members havinga maximum width having a range e.g. ¼ inch to 1½ inch. This embodimentwould serve as a dirt and sand resistant clamp to bind one object toanother. This clamp may have either a continuous section of flexibleopenings in the second zone, or multiple fields of flexible openings(e.g. zone 2.1, zone 2.2, zone 2.3, etc.) spaced intermittently on thesubstrate. In this configuration, the clamp can be re-usably employed asa binder for multiple items (e.g. planks, pipes, paper, etc.).

In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a material with conductiveproperties for use with electronic circuits. The protruding members areconstructed with maximum widths ranging from several millimeters to afew micrometers in order to make flexible connections of electroniccircuits. These circuits can be used in applications where electronicmodules are required to be mounted and dismounted from platforms, suchas unmanned vehicles.

The invention would also include a method for detachable fastening afirst surface to a second surface, including the steps of aligningprotruding members with flexible openings in an elastic material, andthe step of forcing the protruding members, the flexible openingspermitting the head portions to pass through from a first side of thesecond surface to an opposite second side, and the elastic materialcontracting around the basal necking portions of the protruding membersto detachably fasten the first surface to the second surface.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theparticular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by thoseembodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciatedthat those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodimentswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A fastener, comprising: a first zone (10), having a first substrate(5) and protruding members (60) extending upward from the firstsubstrate, the protruding members each having a head portion (65) with amaximum first width (d) and a basal necking portion (SO) with a maximumsecond width (e) and connecting said head portion to said firstsubstrate; and a second zone (20), having a second substrate with anelastic layer (100) having flexible openings (70) adapted to flexbetween a flexing width (f) and a resting width (g) wherein, the maximumfirst width (d) is greater than the resting width (g) and at most equalto the flexing width (f) and the protruding members are arranged toalign with the openings so that, in an engaged configuration, each ofthe protruding members penetrates through one of the flexible openingsto be engaged by the elastic layer of the flexible openings at the basalnecking portion of the protruding members thereby to detachably fastenthe first zone to the second zone.
 2. The fastener according to claim 1,further comprising: a third zone (30) between the first zone (10) andthe second zone (20), and connecting an end of the first substrate withan end of the second substrate, wherein, the third zone is free offlexible openings and protruding members, and the third zone comprises aflexible material to permit the protruding members of the first zone toengage with the flexible openings of the second zone.
 3. The fasteneraccording to claim 1, wherein the head portion (65) of the protrudingmembers (60) is spherical with a diameter equal to the maximum firstwidth.
 4. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the head portion(65) of the protruding members (60) has a rounded end portion oppositethe necking portion (80)
 5. The fastener according to claim 1, whereinthe head portion (65) of the protruding members (60) has a pointed endportion opposite the necking portion (80)
 6. The fastener according toclaim 1, wherein the substrate and the protruding members of the firstzone are formed from a common, thermoformable material.
 7. A product,comprising: a first surface area; a second surface area; and a fastenerhaving a first zone (10) comprising a substrate (5) and a protrudingmember (60) extending upward from the substrate, the protruding memberhaving a head portion (65) with a maximum first width (d) and a basalnecking portion (80) connecting said head portion to said substrate witha maximum second width (e), and a second zone (20), comprising anelastic layer (100) having a flexible opening (70) adapted to flexbetween a flexing width (f) and a resting width (g), the first zonelocated within the first surface area, the second zone located withinthe second surface area, the fastener operable to fasten the first areato the second area by detachably coupling the protruding member with theflexible opening wherein the elastic layer of the flexible openingdisengageably closes around the basal necking portion of the protrudingmember.
 8. A container, comprising: an opening; and a closure affixed tothe container and configured to close the opening of the container, theclosure having a first zone (10) comprising a substrate (5) andprotruding members (60) extending upward from the substrate, theprotruding members each having a head portion (65) with a maximum firstwidth (d) and a basal necking portion (80) connecting said head portionto said substrate with a maximum second width (e), and a second zone(20), comprising an elastic layer (100) having flexible openings (70)adapted to flex between a flexing width (f) and a resting width (g), theclosure operable to fasten the first area to the second area bydetachably coupling the protruding members with the flexible openingswherein the elastic layer of the flexible openings disengageably closesaround the basal necking portion of the protruding members.